Posted on 01/30/2018 7:28:06 AM PST by markomalley
I was raised in a small town in very rural northern Mississippi. Practically Appalachian in its poverty. The town was dying then, in the 60’s, and is almost dead now................
I was born and raised in Williamson. Moved away in 1962 at age 15. Back then, it was a vibrant town of 8,000 in the heart of the coals fields. It was (then) a great place to grow up, families appeared to be strong. I had good memories of it.
Went back in 2007 for a funeral. I was shocked to see the decline citywide. Unkempt homes with many falling apart. Rundown doesn’t begin to describe it. No sense of pride anywhere. I learned from a Catholic priest that it was due to drugs.
Somewhat later I came across an article on the internet discussing the town’s decline and reason why. It painted a very bleak picture. Turned out to be a real Communist Party rag showing the virtues of “capitalism”. A real punch in the gut to read this article.
Sadly, these drugs are decimating cities and towns everywhere. Is this due to Big Pharma’s greed or is there something more sinister here?
Unscrupulous doctors profiteering off their trade in drugs, most likely. Probably shipping them out to overseas and locals alike. Big Pharma has nothing to do with it. Blaming them for the drug problem is no different than blaming Colt Arms for the gun violence.
The problem is liberalism policies that intentionally create these wastelands. Venezuela and West Virginia are both victims of the same disease: Socialism/Communism................
If you are concerned about the opioid situation and like to read, Lee Child’s recent “The Midnight Line” is another great Jack Reacher story. I’m not referring to that midget twat who plays him on the screen.
Come on... Pot’s worse, right?
Almost Heaven, West Virginia
You are 100% correct. It sounds horrible, but has anyone actually done the math? I did, and it averages out to about 2 pills per day, per person. I don't see the issue here.
Here's how I came to that:
20.8 million, divided by 2900 people = 7,172 pills per person. Spread out over 10 years, that is 717 pills per person per year. Divide that by 365 days, and you get 2 pills per day per person.
I did the math, too. This is just a bunch of bed wetting. Lol. Goofy people anyhow.
So, who are they faulting, the Drug Companies or the Doctors who are writing the Prescriptions?
No ticky, no Taco.
Is UPS being blamed? Is the USPS being blamed?, FedEx??
Check Joe Manchin’s garage. His daughter probably has a side business. :)
You are welcome. The inter-relationship of insurance (health and liability for companies) is interwoven with the marketing of “new” drugs (which are mostly not “new” but are called “me too-s” in the industry). So it is said by observers within the industry that there are “markets” for a new agent that may be said to have been created... i.e. they make the agent to treat a disease or the reverse an agent in search of a disease— so they “sell” the disease. Some being really “quality of life” that have both helped and hurt people (like Viagra etc- that early on created lots of dead old guys who thought they were studs out with young “professionals” and died in the saddle having put nitro fuel into a Model T heart. That’s a joke- but not too far off- the number one side effect in condoland S. Florida was old and newly inherited widows. On the other hand, the physical happiness and accompanying diagnosis of heart disease spun out of the invention of Viagra.
You mentioned biometrics— and you have a good point. In re: blood pressure- there is no doubt as regards strokes and “vascular events”. If one had diabetes (2 or 1) at the same time it’s doubled and etc. on the “risk factors”. But- and stay away from fake “natural” treatment- lose weight if overweight, get modest exercise (walking not aerobics-just walking normal on level surface, every day) and getting good rest/sleep, can dramatically lower bp. As for sleep- having sleep apnea means a person stops breathing while sleeping (for long periods ie. without oxygen) which over time develops into heart areas that die off from low oxygen—absolutely true. So the C-PAP or Bi-Pap has been a lifesaver for many people, men especially- experiencing a complete nights fully rested sleep for the first time in years not waking up tired. So there’s that.
Old timers in family lived to over 100 (3 males) by not taking any but essential blood pressure meds and having good genetics— they did drink a daily dose of “mountain Indian medicine” (LOL). Just some observations. Will leave you with this from a day spent with the world famous director of the Framingham Heart Study— “a stroke before one is 65 will ruin the rest of what years someone may have to really live (loss of speech, movement etc.)” Have never forgotten that, and do as much naturally to prevent vascular problems.
In general though, agree with all the “meds on meds” people are put on and have all kinds of liver and kidney problems because of interactions.
Working in forensic areas makes one very appreciative of life and living and the perspective that give.
It is painful to live in West Virginia?
1.965044874822863 pills a day per person over a ten year period. No rural folk or small towns nearby? I think your right, “Nothing to see here move along”.
Why does this story feel like a John Grisham novel in the making?
This assumes that all 2900 people are on opiods on a full time basis. Not a reasonable assumption.
Democrats and company cause opioid crisis no known cure.
Does the town have a name? I might know it...
Williamson......................
I wonder if you have to show your drivers license in West Virginia to get a Sudafed?
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